Dry Socket is a very painful condition which is a result of dislodgement of the blood clot 2-3 days after the extraction and looking at Dry Socket pictures gives you an idea of whether it is really a Dry Socket or just a healing Socket after extraction. This leads to exposure of the bone which is the cause of the pain. Dry socket leads to radiating pain which can be felt at the site, extra orally as well with pain in the ears and the side of the head. Dry socket after wisdom tooth removal is seen more commonly as compared to other teeth due to the surgical procedure which is followed such as removal of bone etc.
In the Normal healing process, the Blood clot is present in the socket which gives the bone a chance to fill in the empty socket space overtime. With the loss of clot, the socket and bone are exposed delaying healing which leads to the excruciating pain felt by the patients. You can check here the complete details about – “Dry Socket or Alveolar Osteitis“
Dry Socket Tooth Extraction Symptoms:
Severe Radiating Pain to the Ear or other parts of the face.
The socket is devoid of clot or contains brown, friable clot which is easily washed out.
Foul smell: Due to Food debris accumulated in the socket which starts disintegrating.
On washing away of the food debris the bare pocket floor can be seen which is extremely sensitive to touch.
Regional Lymph nodes: Tender and enlarged.
Occasionally Pyrexia is seen.
dry socket formation
With the main reason for Dry Socket being loss of Blood clot it is important that the main emphasis on treating Dry socket be restoring the Blood clot in the extraction site which will help in starting the healing process. If you are a Dental Student looking for how a dry socket looks or a patient suffering from dry socket, the set of images listed below is how a dry socket looks clinically. Normal socket after a tooth extraction should be without any food particles being stuck in it along with a healthy blood clot.
Dry Socket With Necrotic Bone
In the Images shown above and below, it is clearly visible that there is a loss of Blood clot from the extraction site as the necrotic bone is clearly visible which is a typical appearance of Dry Socket. Clinically we can also see that there is a foul smell being emitted from the site another typical sign of Dry Socket.
Dry socket with unhealed Socket
The image shown below shows the presence of slough or necrotic substance in the extraction site which is a sign that the extraction site is not healing and it is infected. This infection leads to loss of normal healing tissue and in turn loss of blood clot and exposure of bone. So treatment in such cases required copious irrigation of the extraction site and the use of a ZOE pack after the site is cleaned and bleeding is instigated to help in future blood clot formation.
Necrotic tissue or Slough formation in extraction site of Dry Socket
Who are more likely to get Dry Socket?
Here are some of the habits of things when done is likely to result in Dry Socket. So it is important to note that the things mentioned below are to be avoided at any cost to help in proper healing and prevent Dry Socket formation after extraction.
Smoking – It is a strict “NO” after Tooth extraction, it is seen that the major percent of Dry socket patients are known to be smoking after extraction. It is best to avoid smoking for a couple of days after extraction.
Poor Oral Hygiene: This is also one of the major causes of Dry socket, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene after tooth extraction.
History of Dry Socket: Patients who have earlier faced Dry socket are more likely to get dry socket.
Oral Contraceptive Pills: Patients on Contraceptive pills are seen to get Dry Socket.
Increased Bone cutting and Trauma during Wisdom tooth removal:
Aggressive rinsing immediately after extraction, drinking with a straw: These are two things which result in dislodgement of the Blood clot in the Socket and exposure of the bone which is one of the causes of Dry Socket.
It is important to note that the above mentioned points are to be avoided at any cost the make sure that you do not get Dry Socket.
Dry Socket with Slough formation – The slough seen is the cause of the Foul smell and Foul taste which you experience in Dry Socket.
Dry Socket in the upper left 2nd molar
It is very important for a Dentist to keep regular followups with the patients after extraction to make sure that any initial signs of Dry socket formation are detected and treated. The patient needs to follow all the post-extraction instructions given by the Dentist to the point and make sure that no instruction is taken for granted which might lead to a Dry Socket formation.
The taste and nausea are most likely due to Antibiotics, it is common to feel nausea and have bad taste while taking heavy Antibiotics. It is best to take Antacids along with Antibiotics to control the nausea.
Hello Dr. Please I did implant and bone graft.. after 2weeks I have severe pain. I call the doctor he said give one month to hill. Then after one month I have infection. I went to him he open it and clines it and stitch it back the next day I got socket for 6 days now no pain. Pls what should I do should I go and remove the implant?? Thanks
Did you get an X-ray done to check for the healing of the Implant and bone surrounding it ? In some cases it can be periimplantitis. An X-ray would be the best way to know the cause of your pain and the prognosis of the implant as well.
Hi. I had my molar upper extracted on Tuesday. I went back on Friday because I had pain, my dentist cleaned It And packed it with some brown stuff. The pain went away, yesterday I went again And she added some more of the brown stuff and told me it looks like it’s healing. Well last night most of the brown packing stuff came off, I see some white stuff, and some of the packing, but it looks like a bone in the middle. Also I don’t have pain, just my gums around the extraction are swollen. What should I do?
It most probably is a Dry Socket and your Dentist might have packed it with Eugenol pack. Its a good sign that you do not have any pain now, just maintain good oral hygiene and avoid any hot stuff – Coffee, tea, Smoking etc.
I had my tooth extracted on Tuesday. Apparently by Friday I had developed dry socket, pain was not severe, ibuprofen 800 would take it away. Anyways, I went back and my dentist cleaned it out and added some brown looking paste, no morePain, next day went back and she added more. That night which was Saturday I had some soup for dinner and the brown paste started coming out. Now today still No pain, just some slight throbbing here and there I see some white stuff around the site and like bone in the middle. I’m concerned. What should i do, am i healing? I suffer from anxiety, so this is draining me.
Hi Dr. Varun!
I had an upper right pre-molar extracted about almost 2 weeks ago. I followed all post-op instructions carefully and have no pain in the extraction site. However, I started experiencing some sensitivity around the extraction site the last few days. I noticed the sensitivity started occurring occasionally when I drink or eat. It is not exactly pain but just discomfort which goes away after a while. I haven’t had to take pain killers. I also still rinse with saltwater solution 3x a day to ensure that nothing gets into the extraction site. The hole is becoming smaller but isn’t totally closed yet. Could this be dry socket or something to be concerned about? Thank you!
I don’t think it is Dry Socket, its better you get the front and back tooth of the extraction site checked. Sensitivity after an Extraction can most likely be due to an exposed root portion of the adjacent tooth or any underlying caries which has been exposed after extraction of the tooth.
I have white stuff in the socket 5 days after extraction. The dentist put something in there after he pulled the tooth out idk if that’s what it is it’s been there since the beginning but it’s small now and I’m worried it will come out.
I am out of town & believe that I have a dry socket. Can I go to urgent care or the ER since I don’t know or have a dentist where I am visiting?
What exactly are your symptoms ? you can visit an ER to get relief from pain temporarily but a Dental hospital would be the best plaec to get a permanent solution.
Hello doc
Sir my pt got 10 years old rct treated 11,21 fractured at coronal 1/3rd . Can the remaining roots be left inside as the are sterile or should be extracted
If you need to replace the tooth, it is always advised to remove it. Only is very rare cases where extraction is contra indicated we leave the root piece inside and replace it with a crown.
If the fracture is only in the Coronal portion it can also be saved with a post and core if the Root portion is strong enough for supporting a crown. (Best option)
The best replacement will be – Extraction followed by Implant
Second best will be – Extraction followed by FPD placement.
Dear Doctor,
I did my tooth extraction 3 days before. I am still having pain in the site,lower jaw and difficult to swallow. Some white colour thing is formed but in the middle another white color thing can be seen. Is it a dry socket
With the description it might be a dry socket or just a case of food impaction in the socket. Just make sure you keep the socket clean and take the medication as prescribed.
You can visit your dentist in a couple of days if your symptoms don’t go away.
I had a tooth out 2 days ago.it’ looks like it has a dark scab on but also has formed some white stuff around it.is that dry socket?
Thank you in advance
What you are mentioning is normal healing process, that is what a healing socket looks like. If you are having any pain or discomfort it is something to worry, just make sure that no food particles are stuck in your healing socket.
I had a tooth extracted 6 days ago. Tonight some of the white stuff/granulation tissue fell out whilst i was eating is this dry socket!?
If it would have been Dry Socket, you will be having Severe Pain, foul smell from the socket site. The white stuff which you mentioned might just be food which got stuck.
I had my teeth extracted in three sessions the last 5 teeth has been about 3 weeks ..I am having swelling on that side no pain just swelling..was called in some antibiotics until I get back in the dentist..second day on these
Do you know what may be causing this???
Why were the teeth Extracted ? Was it due to Decay or Bone loss ?? In some cases if there are adjacent teeth it can be because of that as well. So need to be sure of the adjacent teeth and how they are to be able to comment of what might be the cause.
Hello I had a back tooth (30) extraction 6 days ago. For the first 5 days I had no pain and all of a sudden I have a throbbing pain and pain in my cheek and ear. My extraction site i do see red like a clot but it has an indent in it. I see no white and from what I read I should be seeing a white covering? My extraction site has no gotten smaller like closing. I don’t know if it should be by a week or not. I am cleaning with salt water rinses and doing everything I should and shouldn’t be. I’m not sure if this would be considered a dry socket or not healing or if this is all normal.
I had extraction of my last down tooth but after 5 days i was started to experience pain under the hole..and now is about a 5 week after extraction still i have severe pain i dont know what is happed..
It is better to get it checked once at the Dentist as it is not normal and needs an X-ray mostly to determine if there is any secondary infection.